Machine for quartering fruit.



No. 802,888. I PATENTED OUT. 24, 1905.

J. GOOSSEN, In.

MACHINE FOR QUARTBRING FRUIT.

APPLIQATIQN FILED OCT. 20, 1904.

PATENTEID new. 24, 1905. 3., eroos w, JR.

MACHINE FOR QUARTEHING FRUIT.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 26 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W W. Z

my: WM

mnazw a mmvmco mNn-urunnmmzas msmcmu a c.

JOHN GOOSSEN, J11, OF NEWARK, NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR QUARTERING FRUIT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed October 26,1904. Serial No. 230,082.

To ctZZ who/1t [it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN G-oossnn, Jr., of Newark, in the county ofWayne and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Machines for Quartering Fruit, which improvement is fully set forthin the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings.

My invention is a machine for quartering fruit, the same beinghereinafter fully described, and more particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

The main object of this invention is to produce a power-macl'iine at lowcost for rapidly quartering apples and similar fruits, the machinesbeing designed more particularly for use at extensive fruit-evaporatingestablishments or dry-houses where fruit in quantities is cured for themarket.

The following is a specification of my invention, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, which, with the reference characters markedthereon, form a part thereof.

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a front and a rear elevation of themachine as in use. Fig. 3 is a side elevation seen as indicated by arrow3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a plan of one carrier for the cutter-bars withparts of the latter in place thereon, parts being broken away. Fig. 5 isa vertical transverse section of a part of the hopper andthe swingingsection or platform, taken on the dotted line 5 in Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is aplan of the machine. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the carryingmechanism detached seen as in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a plan of a portion of acup-section. Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the cup-section on thedotted line 9 9 in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a plan of the under surface of acutter-bar. Fig. 11 is a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of acutter-bar on the dotted line 11 in Fig. 6, parts being broken away.Fig. 12 is a plan of links of the carrying-chain and adjacent part of acup-section, parts being broken away. Fig. 13 is an end view of a linkwith a portion of a cup-section in place thereon. Figs. 4c, 5, and 7 to13 are drawn to various scales larger than that of Figs. 1 to 3 and 6.

Referring to the drawings. A is the frame of the machine, and B thehopper mounted thereon.

(J, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6, is the driving-shaft, held to turn in hearingson the frame and provided with tight and loose belt-pulleys D of commonkind to receive a driving-belt in the usual manner to operate themachine. The

as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

shaft C has a pinion a in position to engage a toothed gear E, held upona shaft F, resting in bearings secured to the frame, the opposite end ofthe shaft F carrying a mutilated gear Gr. Above the shafs C and F isathird shaft H, Figs. 2, 3, 6, and7, the three shafts being in a verticalplane at the rear of the frame, said shaft H carrying a mutilated pinionl), engaged by the gear G, on account of which several coacting partsthe shaft H is turned intermittently from the driving-shaft (J. Theshaft H is provided with two equal sprockets 00, Figs. 2, 6, and 7,there being a corresponding shaft I, Figs. 1, 3, 6, and 7, at the frontof the frame carrying larger sprockets (Z (Z opposite the sprockets c a,respectively, the two pairs 0 d, a (Z of opposing sprockets holdingparallel carrying-chains c c, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 12. Upon thechains c c and disposed transversely thereto are secured a scries ofparallelopipedal cup-sections f, preferably of wood, each having aseries of conical cavities g in its face opposite the face in contactwith the chain in which to receive the apples to be quartered, saidcup-sections being parallel and near together.

The sprockets c o and (Z (Z are preferably made of unequal diameters, asabove stated and clearly shown in Fig. 7; but the shafts H I arerelatively so placed that the upper portion or stretch it of eachcarrying-chain c is horizontal, as appears in said figure, all positions of the cup-sections being horizontal. The driving-gearing forthe chains 0 0 turns in a manner to cause the upper horizontal row ofcup-sections to move toward the left, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7, saidcup-sections moving beneath the floor 11 of the hopper B,

The front vertical side or wall l: of the hopper is formed with arectangular opening Z, Figs. 1 and 5, out through which the fruit heldin the hop per passes onto a swinging platform or hinged section on,Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 6, of the floor II of the hopper. This section orplatform at when in a horizontal position is level with and acontinuation of the floor i, and the opening Z has equal measurementswith said section 122, on account of which when the latter is turnedupward to a vertical position it fits and fills the opening Z, as shownby dotted lines in Fig. 5, to temporarily hold the fruit in the hopper.

From the fruit upon the platform m the attendant fills the cups orcavities 7 of the cup-sections f, placing one apple in each cavity andso that its axis through stem and calyx shall be vertical. As previouslystated, the motion of the shaft H, and consequently of the twocarrying-chains e e, is intermittent, each advance movement of thechains and the attached cup-sections being equal in extent to thecombined width of two cup-sections plus the intervening spaces that isto say, :at each forward motion of the chains two adjacent cup-sectionsare brought into position to be fed or filled with fruit from theplatform m, as stated.

The intermitting of the motions of the shaft H and theincumbentcarrying-chains is effected by means of the mutilated gear Gand coacting pinion b. The gear is formed with a concentric blanksurface n, the teeth extending only part way around its periphery, asshown in Fig. 3, there being a deep notch 0 in the rim of the gear ateither end ofthe series of teeth. The coacting pinionb has several teethomitted at one side, in place of which are formed two lengthened teethor tions. The cutter-bars are formed near their ends with transverseslots (Z, Figs. 6 and 10, and shown in dotted lines in Fig. i, and thecarriers L L are formed with corresponding slots f, Fig. 4:, crossingthe slots d, through which bolts 6, Fig. 6, pass for holding the cutterbars in place on the carriers. By means of these several pairs of slotscrossing each other the cutter-bars may be adjusted in horizontaldirections to cause each cutter and its associated cavity g to becoaxial.

The cutter-bars, with their two series of cutters, are given motions invertical directions along the guides K K by means of verticalconnecting-bars or connectors P P, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6, joined at theirupper and lower ends pivotally to the respective sliding heads 9' r andto each of a pair of sway-arms R R, as shown. These sway-arms arepivoted at u 10, respectively, to the front legs of the frame in amanner to swing in vertical planes at the sides of the frame. Thesway-arms are actuated and controlled by cranlvpins o o, ex-

spurs p 9, adapted to meet and slide upon the I tendinghorizontally outin opposite directions blank surface a of the gear as the latter re- Ifrom the gears Eand G, respectively, through volves, during which timethe shaft H with l slots w in the sway-arms, one crank-pin and a thechains and the cup-sections are motionless. When, however, in therevolving of the gear a notch 0 is presented to a long tooth p of thepinion, the tooth is caught therein and the pinion started to revolve,bringing the teeth of the gear into engagement with the regular teeth ofthe pinion and causing the latter and the shaft H to be given onecomplete revolution and again brought to a position of inaction oridleness, as shown in Fig. 3. The shafts C and F revolve continuously;but the shaft H is turned through only single revolutions intermitted,the teeth of the gear G being in number just sufficient to give thepinion b one complete revolution at each action. The diameters of thedriving-sprockets c 0 on the shaft H are such as to advance thecarryingchains 6 e sufiiciently to bring two fresh cupsections intopositions of action at each intermitted turning of the shaft H, asstated.

A pair of vertical guide-bars or guides K K, Figs. 2, 3, and 6, areprovided, secured rigidly on either side of the frame A in rear of thehopper, each guide holding a sliding head '1', adapted to moveinvertical directions thereon. To each head 9* is rigidly secured ahorizontal holder or carrier L, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, said twocarriers being opposite and in a horizontal plane. Resting upon andsecured to the carriers L L are a pair of horizontal cutter-bars N N,Figs. 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, and 11, each bar carrying a series of pendentcutters O, each comprising a vertical central tube 8 and a series ofvertical radial blades t. The construction and the operation of theparts are such that during the intervals of rest of the carrying-chainstwo cup-sections are directly beneath the two cutter-bars N N, with acutter 0 over each cavity 9 of the cup-seccoacting slot being shown inFig. 3. As the shaft F is revolved the two sway-arms will be moveddownward and upward simultaneously and alike by the crank-pins, causingthe cutters O to descend into the cavities of the cupsections beneathand divide the apples held therein and then again raised out of action.The cutter-bars andcutters rest motionless dur ing a period when attheir lowest and th eir highest positions, these periods of restoccurring while the crank-pins are traversing the respective slots 20 inthe sway-arms as the gears E and G revolve. The parts are so arrangedand timed that the pinion b and the shaft H are turned only while thecutters are at rest at their upper positions or out of the way of theadvancing cup-sections.

From the description of the operating mechanism thus far given it willbe understood that means are present in this machine for intermittentlycarrying the cup-sections by pairs opposite or beneath the cutters andthen away therefrom, these movements of the cup-sections beingalternated with the reciprocated movements of the cutter-bars, themotions of the cup-sections being made in a plane parallel with theplane of the cutter-bars. The cutters are near the shaftH, and theadvance movement of the carrying-chains made each time the cutters areraised, as stated, will cause the two cup-sections, which have justreceived the actions of the cutters, to tip or become inverted, and soempty thedivided apples at the rear of the machine, simultaneouslybringing two more filled cup-sections under the cutters to receive theiraction when again brought down by the sway-arms, as described. Thecupsections are formed with longitudinal and transverse slots orchannels :0 crossing the axes IIO of the cavities g, as shown, to makeway for the blades 6 of the cutters when they descend to divide thefruit, as stated, the lower cutting edges of the blades going to thebottoms of the cavities.

I sometimes and for doing certain work find it desirable to provide theinclined walls of the fruit cavities g with short pointed spurs or pinsy, Figs. 8 and 9, to aid in temporarily staying or steadying the applesin place in the cavities. Some of the apples to be quartered are liableto be solarge as to not touch the bottoms of the cavities, while othersare smaller and liable to rock or wabble in the cavities. The pins 7 areshort and generally inserted at right angles with the walls of thecavities, and while they aid in steadying the apples in place they donot penetrate them sufliciently to prevent the divided parts fromreadily falling out when the cup-sections are turned or inverted, asabove stated.

The apples treated by this machine are usually previously peeled andsometimes have the cores removed; but frequently they are not previouslycored. In this case the tubes 8 of the cutters O serve to cutout andremove the cores, as said cutters are forced down through the apples,the tubes, like the blades 2,, being formed with cutting edges at thelower ends.

in case the cores are removed from the apples before they are given tothe machine the tubes may be omitted from the cutters, this being,however, a mere matter of judgment in using the machine, and when theapples are previously cored short axial pins g, Figs. 8 and 9, one andone-half inches high, are inserted at the bottoms of the cavities g toenter the core cavities in the apples as the latter are placed in thecavities of the cup-sections, as stated.

The alternate links of the carrying-chains a a are each formed with apair of oppositelyprojecting lugs .2, Figs. 12 and 13, constitutingsmall elevated platforms upon which a cu p-section directly rests, eachcovering or occupying two alternate links of each chain and beingsupported by eight lugs altogether of the two chains. When a cup-sectionis thus placed upon the series of lugs or platforms, there will be fourof said lugs or platforms in each of two lines, respectively, near thetwo opposing faces of the body of the cup-section adjacent to the facein contact with the lugs; but in securing the cup-sections to the chainsit is only the lugs in the lines near the forward or advance faces orsides of the respective cup-sections that are made rigid with thelatter, the cup-sections merely resting freely upon the lugs in thelines adjacent to the rear sides of the cup-sections. The lugs of thelinks secured to the cup-sections are held thereto preferably byordinary wood-screws b, Fig. 12, passed through holes a in the lugs andthreaded into the wood bodies of the cupsections. On account of thismanner of fastening the cup sections to the chains the former are causedto tilt, as appears at the left in Fig. 7, immediately upon reaching thebends in the chains where passing around the sprockets c c, and so toquickly deliver their contents, both cup-sections being dischargedsubstantially at the same time, which is desirable in'the matter ofhandling the divided fruit. The links of the chains being flexiblyjoined and the chains being drawn taut over the carrying-sprocketsenables the two forward links secured to the cup-sections to control thepositions of the latter relative with the chains, the controlling-linksacting to lift the distant or rear sides of the cup-sections off of theother links altogether, as shown in Fig. 7, when passing around thesprockets.

The filled cup-sections ordinarily need no support other than thatafforded by the taut carrying-chaii'is a while passing under the floorii of the hopper; but they need to be rigidly supported while under andreceiving the action of the cutters. For the purpose of holding themagainst the downward thrust or pressure of the t lescending cutters apair of ledges or supports a Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6, (also shown by dottedlines inF ig. .7 ,)are provided, secured rigidly to the frame A. Theseledges bend inward under the ends of the two cup-sections temporarilyresting beneath the cutters and support them against a downwardmovement, as shown. The ends of these ledges first receiving the apn'oaching cup-sections are made inclined or beveled, as indicated inFig. 7, so the cup-sections may readily glide upon or mount them whenmoved onward by the carrying-chains.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. A machine for quartering fruit, comprising a series of cup-sectionseach formed with a series of cavities for holding the fruit, and aseries of quartering-cutters adapted to move into said cavities, andmeans for carrying the cu gi-sections into positions opposite thecutters, and for moving the cutters alternately toward and from thecup-sections and means extending into the cavities for holding thefruit.

2. A machine for quartering fruit, having a series of cup-sectionsformed with cavities and channels crossing the cavities and means insaid cavities to enter and hold the fruit, a series ofquartering-cutters adapted to enter said cavities, having bladesdisposed to 00' cupy said channels of the cup-sections, and means formoving the cup-secti0ns in pairs intermittently beneath the cutters andaway therefrom, and for reciprocating the cutters.

3. A machine for quartering fruit, having a series of cup-sections,means extending into the cavities thereof to pierce and hold the fruit,carrying-chains for the cup-sections, cu tter-bars having quartering-cutters over the chains and coacting with the cup-sections,and

means for moving the chains and the cutterbars intermittently andalternately.

4. A machine for quartering fruit, having a frame and a series ofcup-sections supported by the frame, carrying-chains for thecupsections, cutter-bars having cutters over the chains, and means formoving the chains simultaneously and intermittently and for moving thecutter-bars intermittently in pairs into position opposite thecutter-bars, the motions of the chains and the cutter-bars beingalternated, and supports on the frame bent inward beyond the side barsof the frame for supporting the edges of the cup-sections beneath thecutter-bars said support being beveled at one end.

5. In a machine for quartering fruit, a pair of carrying-chains, and aseries of prismatic bodies disposed transverse of the carryingchains andsecured thereto, said bodies having a series of cavities on the sidesopposite the carrying-chains, a series of cutters adapted to occupy saidcavities of the bodies, and means for moving the chains and said cuttersalternately, a removable axial pin in each cavity and pins projectingfrom the Walls of the cavities in said bodies into the spaces of thecavities.

6. A machine for quartering fruit, having a series of cup-sections Withmeans extending thereinto for entering and holding the fruit, and meansfor entering the core-cavities of the fruit, and cutter-bars each With aseries of quartering-cutters to coact with the cupsections, and meansfor moving the cup-sections and the cutter-bars relatively With oneanother, the cup-sections being moved in pairs into position oppositethe cutter bars, the motions of the cup-sections being in a planeparallel With the cutter-bars and the latter being universallyadjustable in a plane parallel with the cup-sections.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 21st day ofOctober, 1904, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN GOOSSEN, JR.

lVitnesses:

Enos B. VHITMORE, MINNIE SMITH.

